Echoes Across the Seas: My Father's Odyssey

Born in 1922 in Tyre, Lebanon, Hanna Malouf endured childhood tragedies including the deaths of siblings and his fisherman father's disabling accident. Forced into early labor, he journeyed to Jerusalem at 13, where he met and married Herlinda ("Linda") Masso against her family's wishes, facing imprisonment for their love. They built a family amidst rising tensions.
The 1948 Nakba (catastrophe) displaced them during the Arab-Israeli conflict. Forced into exile in Tyre as refugees with three young children, Hanna worked grueling years in Saudi Arabia's oil fields to support his growing family. Facing sectarian violence in Lebanon, he secured visas and in 1959 led his wife and eight children on a perilous 28-day voyage to America.
Arriving in New York with minimal funds, they traveled to Texas. Settling first in Brownsville near Linda's relatives, they later moved to Lubbock, living and working in a cramped dry goods store where two more children were born. Seeking independence from competing family businesses, Hanna relocated to Lockney and finally Friona, Texas. Through relentless work in textiles and upholstery ("King of Fabrics"), he provided stability. His sacrifices enabled his 13 children to pursue education and diverse careers, fulfilling his dream of a secure future in America. Hanna died in 2004, leaving a legacy of resilience, faith, and unwavering family devotion.